Andhra CM meets PM

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and is understood to have discussed the contentious Telangana statehood issue in the wake of the recommendations made by the Justice Srikrishna Committee.

During the 20-minute long meeting, Reddy is also understood to have discussed the package for farmers affected by the recent floods in the state.

This is the first meeting between Singh and Reddy after the Srikrishna Committee submitted its report to the Centre on the Telangana statehood demand.

The Committee had given six options including keeping Andhra Pradesh united with Constitutional statutory powers to the Telangana region and carving out Telangana from Andhra Pradesh.

Though there was no official word on what transpired at the meeting, Singh and Reddy are believed to have discussed the situation in the state and the agitation for a separate Telangana state.

The meeting also assumes significance as the Centre is likely to convene a meeting of eight recognised political parties from Andhra Pradesh to discuss the Srikrishna Committee report.

Reddy also met Home Minister P Chidambaram and is understood to have discussed the Telangana issue.

The Congress high command had directed Reddy to discuss the statehood issue ahead of the all-party meeting.